Vegetative propagation of Rhaphiodon echinus Schauer (Lamiaceae): effects of the period of cutting in rooting, cuttings arrangement and IBA concentrations for seedlings production

One of the tendencies in the floriculture sector, whether in modern landscaping or floral art, is related to the insertion of innovations in the sector, mainly of native origin. For this it is necessary to establish strategies that favor the introduction of these materials. Among the species that present ornamental potential, Rhaphiodon echinus Schauer has been outstanding for groundcover; however it is necessary to establish the proper propagation protocol for the species. In this sense, the objective was to evaluate the vegetative propagation process of this species considering the period of cutting in rooting, cuttings arrangement and IBA concentrations for seedlings production. The experiment was carried out in a sub-split plots scheme with the period of cutting in rooting in the plots (30 and 60 days), the cuttings arrangement (horizontal and vertical) in the subplots and the IBA concentrations (0; 1,000; 2,000 and 4,000 ppm) in sub-subplots. The following variables were evaluated: survival cuttings, percentage of rooted cuttings, number of sprouts per cuttings, average length of the largest root, root volume, shoot dry biomass and root dry biomass. There was a significant interaction between the period of cutting in rooting and the cuttings arrangement for survival cuttings and rooted cuttings; between the period of cutting in rooting and the concentration of IBA for shoot dry and between the cuttings arrangement and concentration and IBA for the percentage of rooted cuttings, number of sprouts per cuttings and root dry biomass. For average length of the largest root and root volume there was a significant effect for period of cutting in rooting and IBA concentrations individually. The period of cutting in rooting of 30 days is the most suitable for rooting the cuttings. In relation of the cuttings arrangement the most indicated is vertical. Finally, the concentration of 1,000 ppm of IBA can be indicated for the propagation of R. echinus by the cutting process.